Carbon County's economy sustained a moderate employment expansion level during the 20-year period between 1985 and 2005.

However, the latest finalized data compiled by the Utah Department of Workforce Services indicates that Carbon's 20 percent employment growth level ranked near the bottom of the non-farm job creation rates reported by the state's 29 counties from 1985 to 2005.

Millard County finished at the bottom of the list with a negative 32 percent job growth rate, while Washington County topped the statewide rankings with a 405 percent employment expansion level.

"As an old year ends and a new one begins, the natural inclination to review the past nudges at our psyche. So let's give into the urge. But, in this case, let's look back - way back - to discover which counties have experienced the strongest economic growth over the past 20 years," commented DWS economist Lecia Langston in the state agency's January-February 2007 Trendlines report.

Job growth represents one of the best available measure of a county's economic well-being, pointed out Langston. The concurrent indicator tracks closely with cycles of boom and bust or expansion and recession, providing some of the most accurate data.

"Remember 1985? The first Ford Taurus rolled off the assembly line, Ronald Reagan was president and U.S. unemployment registered above 7 percent," commented the DWS economist. "To put the county numbers in perspective, what happened statewide and nationally?"

In Utah between 1985 and 2005, jobs increased statewide by 84 percent or more than twice the rate of the national 37 percent employment expansion rate.

In addition to Carbon, slower growing Utah counties during the designated 20-year period included San Juan, Beaver, Duchesne and Tooele.

"However, remember that these numbers cover two decades. Several of these counties are currently experiencing rapid expansion. For example, Duchesne County's current job growth rate registers in the double-digit range," concluded Langston.